CLARENCE THORSTEINN SWAINSON

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CLARENCE THORSTEINN SWAINSON Clarence Thorsteinn Swainson passed away at the Riverview Hospital on May 4, 2003 at the age of 70 years. He was predeceased by his wife Bernice in 1998; his parents, Liney and Ingi Swainson; brothers, Arthur and Donald; and sister Catherine Desrochers. He is survived by his son Paul; daughter Jocelyn (Peter Lohr) grandchildren, Jasmine (Kenton Podolsky), Jesse, Kyle; and great granddaughter Breanna; also a sister Olive (George Norberg) of Brandon; sisters-in-law, Marion Swainson of Ottawa, Eleanor Swainson of Kingston; and a brother-in-law Leo Desrochers; and many nieces and nephews. Clarence was born to Ingi and Liney Swainson in 1932 in the Baldur-Grund area. His paternal grandparents were Thorsteinn and Kristin Swainson and maternal grandparents, Kristjan and Freda Oleson. His great-grandfather was Eyolfur Jonson, a pioneer of the Skalholt district north of Glenboro. Clare, as he was always called, moved with his family to Glenboro where he received his early schooling. They moved to Winnipeg in 1949 and Clare finished high school at Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954 and in 1956 a Bachelor of Education from United College. In 1972, he obtained a Master of Education from the University of Manitoba. From 1956 to 1963, Clare taught and was Drama Director at Hapnot Collegiate in Flin Flon, MB. He taught and served as Department Head and Drama Director at Garden City Collegiate, Seven Oaks School Division from 1963 to 1969. In the summer of 1968, he instructed at Kenya Teachers College, Kenya, Africa and the following summer at Guyana Teachers College, Guyana, South America. Both were Project Overseas appointments of the Canadian Teachers Federation. From 1969 to 1972, Clare was appointed by the Canadian International Development Agency to teach at the St. Lucia Teachers College, Castries, St. Lucia. Clare taught and served as Department Head from 1972 to 1979 at West Kildonan Collegiate, Seven Oaks School Division. In the mid 1970s, he was the president of the Seven Oaks Teachers Association. He was English Department Head at Maples Collegiate in West Kildonan where he taught from 1979 to 1989. Clare retired June 30, 1989 where he pursued his passions golf and bridge, he also enjoyed curling and cross-country skiing. The family would like to thank the 3rd floor staff at Riverview Hospital for their care and support. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, May 8 at Neil Bardal Inc., 984 Portage Ave., entrance on Aubrey Street. Flowers lovingly declined, if friends so desire, donations may be made in Clares memory to a charity of ones choice. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 07, 2003